NOAA Seasonal Drought Update

In their assessment, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says heavy rains toward the end of August and during the first half of September relieved drought over the central and northern Plains, and the outlook calls for more improvement in coming months, especially from Oklahoma into South Dakota and Minnesota.

“Improvement is expected to be more limited in Michigan and Wisconsin, although forecast rains during the last half of September will be beneficial,” adds the Administration. “Drought is forecast to persist in southern Iowa and northwestern Missouri, as precipitation is expected to be below normal from October to December.”

Turning toward the West, the NOAA says September rains have already begun to relieve drought in Washington and Oregon, and additional improvement is anticipated into December in the Pacific Northwest.

“Some improvement is on tap for the Great Basin and central and northern Rockies, although pronounced relief from water shortages will depend on the upcoming winter snow season,” the NOAA says. “A tendency toward above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation means that drought should largely persist across the southwest.”

This article originally appeared on www.AgWeb.com.